Art De La Guerre

[thethreefates]

I think I understand this rule, but I want to make sure I understand the practical ramifications of the rule. If my opponent and I both have a flank march on the same side and I have the smaller army, I am driven back. I then have to deploy my flankers within 5mu of my side of the board. The next turn, he gets to deploy his flankers. Wouldn't it be the case that he is always going to deploy his flankers directly where I deployed mine so he gets rear charges on everything? If I choose not to move my guys from the board edge, does that prevent him from deploying there or can he just say that he wants to deploy there and force my guys to flee toward the center of the board, again leaving my rear pointed at him?

Unless I am understanding this incorrectly, it seems as if being driven back almost guarantees the loss of the corps.

[Commodore]

The flank march procedure is:
1/when one flank march is arriving, following a dice roll (6 or 5/6), the owning player indicate the side concerned.
2/ if there is only one flanl march, it arrives on the next turn
3/ If the opponent has also a flank march then on same side both corps are comparated and the smallest is repulsed
4/ on the following phase, the repulsed flank march is deployed on the side edge within 5 UD from its table edge and played normally except it does not provoque any flee and can not move closer than 4 UD from any ennemy. If they have to, they become disordered.

This sequence allows a repulsed flank march to perform at least one move if the ennemy is already closing the friendly table edge or 2 moves if not. It is sufficient to avoid to be catch in the back.
Anyways, if they stay within 4 UD from an entering ennemy flank march unit, they will have to flee.

Worst case for example: an all HI flank march repulsed by cavalry. Entering on the friendly phase with a PIP dice of 1, left 1 PIP + general PIP, the HI can perform 2 moves of 2UD and finish at 4 UD from the edge. The ennemy HC flank march arrives just behind them, so, as they are within 4UD from an entering point, they flee form (move from 1 to 3 UD) and become disordered as they are not evading capable. The HC can come close to the HI but can not hit them in the back.
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"Damn the torpedoes, full speed ahead"
Cdr Farragut,Mobile 1864